Kim Cunningham
Kim Cunningham is a healthcare privacy and compliance attorney and the founder of Cunningham Law, LLC, where she partners with small clinics and independent healthcare providers to solve complex regulatory challenges so they can focus on patient care. Based in Beaufort, South Carolina, she is known for blending sharp legal insight with a calm, solutions-oriented approach, helping clients navigate the evolving landscape of healthcare law with clarity and confidence. Her practice spans HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules, risk assessments, investigations, breach response, cybersecurity, and regulatory compliance, as well as contract review, business associate agreements, and the development of practical, real-world policies and procedures.
With more than a decade of experience in healthcare compliance and legal operations, Kim brings a deeply informed and empathetic perspective to her work. She previously spent over seven years with The MetroHealth System in Cleveland, where she served in roles including Interim Privacy Officer, Senior Privacy Analyst, and Compliance Analyst. Her work included leading complex privacy investigations, developing system-wide compliance programs, advising on regulatory risk, and delivering organization-wide training. Known for her collaborative and approachable style, she is trusted by colleagues and clients alike for her ability to translate complex regulations into actionable strategies that strengthen operations and protect patient trust.
Kim’s path to healthcare law is both professional and deeply personal. After beginning her career as a paralegal in real estate and foreclosure law, she earned her Juris Doctor from Cleveland State University College of Law while working full-time, ultimately transitioning into healthcare to better understand and navigate the system while caring for her mother during her battle with Parkinson’s disease. That experience continues to shape her mission-driven approach, grounding her work in empathy, servant leadership, and a commitment to improving the patient experience. Today, she is passionate about building compliance programs that not only meet regulatory requirements but also support providers, empower teams, and ensure patients feel seen, respected, and cared for.
• Licensed attorney in South Carolina
• Licensed attorney in Georgia
• Licensed attorney in Ohio
• Cleveland State University College of Law
• Ohio University
• Dean's List
• Excellence in Health Care Law
• American Health Lawyers Association
• South Carolina Women Lawyers Association (SCWLA)
• Beaufort Chamber of Commerce
• International Association of Privacy Professionals
• Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association
• Donates to Child Abuse Prevention Association in Beaufort
• Donates to Help of Beaufort (local food bank)
What do you attribute your success to?
I would say more than anything, grit and resilience. It's just being able, most of the time, to kind of shake off negative outcomes or things that didn't go the way I thought they would, and just try something else rather than getting discouraged. There's a lot of things that can discourage you in a practice like this, but I constantly tell myself, I can do this, I will figure this out one way or another. Just having that belief in myself and my ability is so important, which can be hard sometimes, and I think it's a challenge for lawyers and potentially a little bit more for women. We tend to be a little harder on ourselves. I work hard at not being hard on myself, and talk to myself like I would talk to my best friend, which is different than I used to talk to myself.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Mentorship has been a cornerstone of my growth. Early in my career, a compliance officer I worked with helped shape how I think about healthcare law—not just as a set of rules, but as a framework for ethical decision-making. Since then, I’ve intentionally built a circle of mentors and peers—people who challenge me, guide me, and remind me that asking for help is not a weakness, but a strategy.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say to find mentors and people that can support you and help you along. I think that one of the flaws of attorneys in general is that we're very likely to not want to ask for help and think that we have to figure everything out ourselves. But nobody knows everything, so it's okay to ask for help. And you can probably help the person that you're asking too, because no two experiences are the same, and nobody knows all of it.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I don't do any malpractice or litigation. I try to prevent providers and physicians from having to defend against anything in the first place. So, preventive healthcare, I guess, in terms of the law.
It's not just about what the law is, but about how that's actually going to affect the patients' health many times, and it can be a matter of life and death.After seven years working within a hospital system, I made a decision that both excited and challenged me—I stepped into entrepreneurship and launched my own solo practice. Eight months in, I can say this transition has been one of the most demanding and rewarding experiences of my career. Unlike past generations who often spent decades with one employer, today’s path requires adaptability, resilience, and a willingness to build something from the ground up.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I work hard at not being hard on myself, and talk to myself like I would talk to my best friend, which is different than I used to talk to myself.If there’s one message I carry forward, especially for women navigating their own paths, it’s this: grit matters, but so does grace. We are often our own toughest critics. Building a career, a business, or a life doesn’t require perfection—it requires persistence, self-belief, and the willingness to keep going even when the path isn’t clear.Community matters just as much as career. Whether through professional organizations or volunteer work with hospice care, child advocacy groups, or local food initiatives, I believe in staying connected to the people and causes that ground us. It’s easy to get caught up in professional momentum, but purpose is what sustains it.